A recent article in this journal (Razali et al., 2015) reports the results of a 2-stage study screening for psychosis risk in Malaysia. The researchers incorporated both selective and indicated prevention strategies and included self-report items probing non-specific "early" experiences as well as attenuated psychotic symptoms associated with the prodromal phase of schizophrenia. Given that increased stigma and reduced services may reduce help-seeking in many Asian countries, population screening may be more important to early detection of individuals at risk for psychosis. In fact, the availability of large population centers and greater trust of providers may make Asian research centers uniquely suited for conducting badly needed research on screening strategies and the role of cultural factors in the emergence of psychosis.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain the basis of disease onset and progression. A complicated array of molecular events has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. It is attributed to a variety of pathological conditions that share similar critical processes, such as oxidative stress, proteinaceous aggregations, mitochondrial dysfunctions and energy failure. There is increasing evidence suggesting that metal homeostasis is dysregulated in the pathology of AD. Biometals play an important role in the normal body functioning but AD may be mediated or triggered by disproportion of metal ions leading to changes in critical biological systems and initiating a cascade of events finally leading to neurodegeneration and cell death. The link is multifactorial, and although the source of the shift in oxidative homeostasis is still unclear, current evidence points to changes in the balance of redox transition metals, especially iron, copper (Cu) and other trace metals. Their levels in the brain are found to be elevated in AD. In other neurodegenerative disorders, Cu, zinc, aluminum and manganese are involved. This paper is a review of recent advances of the role of metals in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of AD and related neurodegenerative diseases.
We present a rare case of stomach trichobezoar complicated with iatrogenic intussusception noted intra-operatively after failed attempt of endoscopic removal in a 13-year-old girl. At presentation, she had gastric outlet obstruction with anaemia. Endoscopy established the diagnosis of trichobezoar. Surgical removal was warranted after failed endoscopic removal. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Detailed history and careful examination disclosed trichotillomania and associated trichophagia. Psychiatric referral was sought with the intention to prevent future recurrence.
Breastfeeding has many health benefits, both in the short term and the longer term, to infants and their mothers. There is an increasing number of studies that report on associations between breastfeeding and long-term protection against chronic disease. Recent research evidence is reviewed in this study, building on previous authoritative reviews. The recent World Health Organization reviews of the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding concluded that there was strong evidence for many public health benefits of breastfeeding. Cognitive development is improved by breastfeeding, and infants who are breastfed and mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of obesity. Other chronic diseases that are reduced by breastfeeding include diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and some types of cancer.
Characterization of 14,079 circulating dengue viruses in a cross-border surveillance program, UNITEDengue, revealed that the 2013 outbreaks in Singapore and Malaysia were associated with replacement of predominant serotype. While the predominant virus in Singapore switched from DENV2 to DENV1, DENV2 became predominant in neighboring Malaysia. Dominance of DENV2 was most evident on the southern states where higher fatality rates were observed.
During the outbreak of Nipah virus encephalitis involving pigs and humans in peninsular Malaysia in 1998/1999, a conventional approach was initially undertaken to collect specimens from fruit bats by mist-netting and shooting, as an integral part of wildlife surveillance of the natural reservoir host of Nipah virus. This study describes a novel method of collecting fruit bats' urine samples using plastic sheets for isolation of Nipah virus. This novel approach resulted in the isolation of several other known and unidentified infectious agents besides Nipah virus.
Gaucher Disease may now be treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Results with BMT are curative when successful but limited by the scarcity of an appropriate donor. ERT offers very good relief of symptoms but treatment is lifelong and cost of treatment exorbitant. Patients in developing countries are particularly disadvantaged and management remains a dilemma for both doctor and patient.
We developed a computer model which measures the impact of disease on a population, has the ability to track changes in disease incidence over time, and incorporates costs of disease prevention and treatment. This model was developed with data for Malaysia and used by the Ministry of Health in the development of their national health plan. The model uses the DHLL (DALY) measure which incorporates morbidity and mortality impacts of disease. The ability of the model to adjust for changes in disease incidence over a period of years allows health planners to accurately reflect demographic and development related changes in disease incidence. This model is of value to health planners because in incorporates information on population health status, costs of prevention and treatment, and changes in health status over time. It produces an evaluation of the cost effectiveness of possible interventions that can be used by health planners in making decisions on resource allocation.
The nucleotide sequence of the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) viscerotropic-velogenic strain AF2240 was determined by direct RNA sequencing and by sequencing RT-PCR products. It encodes a single open reading frame of 581 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 63.8 kDa. The predicted sequence contains five asparagine glycosylation sites. Comparison of the AF2240 HN protein sequence with 13 other previously published sequences showed 88% homology. This HN protein is unique because it lacked the Arg 403 residue which is present in all of the other strains and cannot be grouped under the proposed three size classes of HN proteins in NDV.